Page 46 of Ink & Stardust

“And then you told everyone that I belong to you, like I’m some kind of possession.”

“Youkissed me.Youtold me this was what you wanted.” His gaze darkens. “Did I give you the impression that I’m the kind of man who likes to share? Because I can assure you, I am not.”

My heart thunders in my chest and it takes every ounce of willpower I possess to keep my feet rooted.

“That doesn’t mean you have to stake some kind of possessive claim on me in front of all those people. After that little show you put on, people are going to be afraid to even talk to me.”

“Then it worked.”

“Seriously.” I gape at him.

“Do I look anything but serious?” He arches a thick brow. “Now take off that fucking shirt.” He gestures to Owen’s tee, which I’d honestly forgotten I was even wearing.

“I can’t. I don’t have anything else to put on.”

Without a second of hesitation, he reaches for the hem of his own T-shirt, tugging it over his head before extending it to me. I’m so taken by the sight of him, by the ripple of his muscle, by the swirls of ink, by the sheer hunger I feel for this man, it takes me a lot longer than it should to actually take it.

He stares back at me expectantly.

“Turn around.” I swirl my fingers.

“No,” he states flatly. “Take off that shirt, right now.”

I should be mad that he thinks he can boss me around this way, but the way he says it is so freaking sexy, I find myself doing it just the same.

Lifting the material over my head, I ignore the impulse to cover myself as I drop Owen’s shirt to the ground. Kai’s expression darkens as he stares back at my half-naked body, and while I’m tempted to let him look for a few seconds longer, loving the way he watches me, I’m also acutely aware that we’re not exactly in private.

I stare back at him as I slip his shirt on, internally salivating at the way his incredible smell invades every single one of my senses, overwhelming me in a way only Kai Elliot can do.

“Why?” I finally speak after what feels like hours, careful to keep my eyes on his face instead of his very shirtless torso, though the feat is easier said than done.

“Why what?” His head cocks to the side, a hint of amusement dancing in those incredible blue eyes of his. Eyes I’ve dreamed about staring into while he does things to my body I can’t even bring myself to speak aloud.

“I know you well enough to know that you don’t go around staking claim to every woman you sleep with, which we haven’t even done yet, by the way.” My cheeks heat just at the simple implication that wewill, in fact, sleep together.

My skin tingles with anticipation.

“Should we remedy that?” His head tilts, a smirk tugging at his full lips, and that tingle I just mentioned becomes a full-on inferno that seems trained in one very specific area.

“Tell me why.” I refuse to let him distract me.

“I already did. You’re just not listening.”

“Then explain it again.”

“I don’t share. If you want this, those are my terms. Until I say otherwise, you are mine, and anyone who touches what’s mine will suffer the same fate as the asshat in there who was stupid enough to put his hands on you.”

I consider his position for a moment, wondering how I’d feel if I saw him and another girl in a similar position. Would I feel possessive? Hell yes, I would. Would I want to rip her throat out? You best freaking believe it. Does that mean I’m in love with him? Absolutely not. Honestly, I’m not even sure I like him. Or maybe I’m just trying to convince myself I don’t. That this is purely a sexual attraction. An itch I desperately need to scratch.

“Until you say otherwise?” I take a step toward him, my fingers itching to reach out and touch him.

“Or you could just walk away now.”

“And does that work both ways?” I choose to ignore the walk away part, knowing he could set the ground beneath my feet on fire and it still wouldn’t be enough to send me running.

“Does what work both ways?”

“You don’t want anyone else touching me. Does that mean no one else will be touching you?”

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